Mannargudi (Tamil Nadu) Apr 12: In a scathing attack on the AIADMK leadership, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Sunday accused Edappadi K Palaniswami of practicing a “politics of prostration”, claiming that he had serially switched allegiances and surrendered state rights to maintain his hold on power.
Udhayanidhi, campaigning for DMK’s Mannargudi candidate and Industries Minister T R B Rajaa, sought to frame the 2026 Assembly election as a battle between “slaves and self-respect”.
“As long as J Jayalalithaa (late AIADMK leader) was there, (he held) her feet. After she died, V K Sasikala’s feet. After she went to jail, T T V Dhinakaran’s feet. Now, he goes to Delhi and says, I will only hang onto Modi’s feet, and he is hanging there.”
The Deputy CM claimed that Palaniswami had backstabbed every mentor who aided his political rise, contrasting this with the DMK’s record of standing up for Tamil Nadu’s autonomy against the “Delhi team.”
Responding to the AIADMK chief’s taunts regarding his “lack of experience”, Udhayanidhi retorted that he indeed lacked the “experience” of catching the feet of superiors for posts. “I don’t have the experience of being afraid. I am someone who always stands with the people and speaks for their rights,” he asserted.
Focusing on the “Dravidian Model 2.0” roadmap, the DMK leader promised to double the monthly ‘Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai’ (Women’s Rights Grant) from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 upon returning to power. He also announced a special Rs 8,000 grant for women to purchase household appliances, a move aimed at boosting the domestic economy of rural households.
Highlighting the developmental works in Mannargudi, including a textile park and the Rs 170 crore railway overbridge, Udhayanidhi urged the electorate to ensure a victory margin exceeding one lakh votes for Rajaa. He noted that the success of the Delta candidate was “more important” to him than his own performance in the Chepauk-Triplicane constituency.
The rally, which saw participation from Congress, VCK, and Left alliance partners, ended with Udhayanidhi warning that any resurgence of the AIADMK-BJP combine would result in the loss of Tamil Nadu’s hard-won state rights.
Later at Thiruthuraipoondi, Udhayanidhi campaigned for CPI candidate Marimuthu.
He urged the cadre to ensure the “Sickle and Ears of Corn” symbol triumphs with a margin of at least 50,000 votes.
Highlighting Marimuthu’s humble lifestyle and commitment to public service, Udhayanidhi cautioned that the election was a critical choice between progress and regression.
“We shouldn’t just leave and disperse. There are still 10 days left. Each one of you, for the next 10 days, take this campaign to the people,” Udhayanidhi exhorted the crowd. He warned that if the AIADMK “slave alliance” is allowed to re-enter, they would “take Tamil Nadu backward” by surrendering state rights.
Invoking his lineage as the grandson of M Karunanidhi, and son of Chief Minister M K Stalin, he appealed to the electorate to meet every voter and promote the “Dravidian Model” achievements to secure a decisive mandate.
Elections for 234 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu will be held on April 23. (PTI)
